The order specifically instructs the Corporation For Public Broadcasting (CPB), an independent nonprofit created by congress to partially fund public broadcasters, per NPR, to “cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS” as well as root out any other sources of “indirect” funding. AP reports that the broadcasters currently receive approximately half a billion dollars in public funding through the CPB. That’s a little over 1% of NPR’s budget, the broadcaster reports, while it makes up about 15% of the budget for PBS and its affiliate stations. Most federal funds for public media go to local stations, largely to subsidize television, which is more expensive than radio, NPR further clarifies.
The writing for this move has been on the wall for a while. In his attacks on both the Kennedy Center and news institutions like 60 Minutes, the president already has quite a track record of leveraging the power of his position against art and news institutions he personally disagrees with. Last month, the administration specifically said it was going to send a request for the recession of NPR and PBS funding to congress, NPR reports. The FCC has also been looking into the broadcasters on allegations that their corporate underwriting spots violate laws banning commercial advertisements. The onslaught heightened this week, as Trump moved to fire three out of the CPB’s five board members. The nonprofit sued the administration on Tuesday in response, claiming that the president was exceeding his authority and would deprive the organization of a quorum needed to conduct business, AP reports.
As Trump’s offensive heightened last month, PBS CEO and president Paula Kerger said that efforts to defund public media would “disrupt the essential service PBS and local member stations provide to the American people.”
“There’s nothing more American than PBS, and our work is only possible because of the bipartisan support we have always received from Congress,” she continued, per AP. “This public-private partnership allows us to help prepare millions of children for success in school and in life and also supports enriching and inspiring programs of the highest quality.”
